In pursuit of this objective, the Endowment has supported research into the factors underlying this low ranking.  Although Indiana's rich agricultural and manufacturing heritage served it well for decades, its economy is now in transition and increasingly more affected by global economic forces.  More Indiana residents and communities must appreciate that higher educational attainment is now essential to foster the quality of life they desire.  The Endowment therefore is encouraged by the groundswell of concern and action in Indiana communities demonstrated through the Endowment's competitive Community Alliances to Promote Education (CAPE) initiative. Communities in 44 of Indiana's 92 counties have assessed their areas' most compelling educational needs and planned strategies that they now are implementing to meet these needs.

In its home county, Marion County, the Endowment is pleased to see the implementation of programs it has funded through recent competitive initiatives for public and private K-12 schools. The Endowment hopes these programs will be transformative and raise the schools to new levels of distinction.

The Endowment also is encouraged to see the efforts of Indiana colleges and universities to retain in the state more of their graduates.  To help them in these efforts, the Endowment approved in December 2003 a round of grants totaling more than $38 million for nearly every Indiana college and university under a new educational initiative to build and promote economic opportunities for college graduates in Indiana.  The Endowment is pleased with the creative internship, placement and other programs that will be supported under this initiative. 

In its commitment to educational excellence, the Endowment also continues to invite selected Indiana colleges to dream big, to achieve new levels of excellence that will build the state's intellectual capital, so vital to Indiana's future prosperity. It also has begun efforts to stimulate increased philanthropy and engagement on the part of college board members, alumni, faculties, staff, parents and students, and it is pleased to see the generosity that has been evidenced in response to these programs.

The Endowment is confident Indiana will meet its educational challenges because of the creativity, resourcefulness and spirit of its residents.  It is heartened by the educational common ground that is being built through connections among Indiana colleges and universities, their constituents, business organizations, community foundations, K-12 educational organizations and other progressive programs and organizations in Indiana.